DOHA – Brazil hit prime gear with Neymar again within the line-up to brush apart South Korea 4-1 on Monday and ease into the quarterfinals of the World Cup the place they’ll face Croatia.

Neymar had been sidelined for 2 matches with a sprained ankle however with the world’s most costly participant restored to their facet, Brazil’s yellow shirts poured ahead at Stadium 974.

Vinicius Junior opened the scoring inside seven minutes earlier than Neymar added one other from the penalty spot to transfer to 76 objectives for his nation, leaving him only one away from equalling Pele’s all-time file tally.

The ailing Pele watched from his hospital mattress in Sao Paulo the place the 82-year-old was admitted final Tuesday amid ongoing therapy for colon most cancers.

He can have loved Richarlison’s dazzling objective to make it 3-0 earlier than Lucas Paqueta added one other earlier than half-time, all celebrated with dance routines as Brazil’s supporters roared their approval.

Paik Seung-ho pulled a objective again for the Koreans when the Brazilians took their foot off the pedal, however their ideas had already turned to Friday’s quarterfinal conflict with 2018 runners-up Croatia.

It was the primary time that Brazil had scored 4 objectives in a World Cup knockout sport since 1998 and the efficiency rapped out a warning to their rivals that they’ve a sixth title of their sights.

“We are dreaming of winning the title, that’s obvious, but we have to go step by step,” Neymar mentioned.

He admitted he had feared at one level that he wouldn’t play once more within the match after injuring his ankle in Brazil’s opening sport against Serbia.

“When I got injured I spent a very difficult night. I was thinking of a million different things.”

LIVAKOVIC CROATIA’S HERO

Goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic was the hero for Croatia within the day’s different last-16 tie, saving three penalties within the shootout as his facet beat Japan to attain the final eight.

Japan had already overwhelmed European heavyweights Germany and Spain in Qatar and so they seemed on observe to take down 2018 runners-up Croatia when Daizen Maeda put them forward simply earlier than half-time.

But Ivan Perisic introduced Croatia stage within the fifty fifth minute with a powerful header from Dejan Lovren’s cross and a hard-fought match grew to become the primary of this World Cup to go into additional time.

When neither facet may break the impasse, the tie additionally produced the primary penalty shootout of Qatar 2022.

It continued a exceptional sample – seven of Croatia’s previous eight knockout video games at main tournaments have gone to additional time, the one exception being their defeat within the remaining by France in Russia 4 years in the past.

In nail-biting rigidity, Livakovic saved the primary Japan two spot-kicks earlier than stopping Maya Yoshida’s effort, then Mario Pasalic struck the profitable penalty to ship Croatia via.

Livakovic, the hero of the hour, mentioned: “I don’t think they were difficult penalties to save, they weren’t perfect penalties, and thank God for that.”

Croatia captain Luka Modric mentioned: “It seems that we can’t do it without a drama.

“We are very happy to attain the quarterfinals. It was a really tough sport against a really powerful staff.”

Japan forward Ritsu Doan gave a frank assessment of his country’s performance: “No matter how effectively we fought right now, we did not change historical past.”

Three-quarters of the quarterfinal line-up is now set, with Argentina going through the Netherlands on Friday, the identical day Brazil play Croatia.

England face the daunting prospect of taking up holders France on Saturday.

Spain shall be wanting to e-book their place within the final eight once they face a harmful Morocco facet on Tuesday, whereas Cristiano Ronaldo’s Spain play Switzerland.

DOHA – Substitute Hwang Hee-chan scored the winner in harm time to rescue South Korea from the brink of World Cup elimination in an exciting 2-1 victory over already-qualified Portugal on Friday.

The Wolverhampton Wanderers’ ahead slipped within the winner within the 91st minute at Education City Stadium in Qatar to spark delirium and tears among the many Korean followers.

Talisman Son Heung-min, who arrange the winner, collapsed to the ground and lay on his again on the turf on the closing whistle. He had tears in his eyes.

The Korean gamers then stood in a huddle on the pitch watching the Ghana vs Uruguay match on a cell phone as they awaited their place within the last 16 to be confirmed.

A much-changed Portugal had taken a fifth-minute lead by means of Ricardo Horta however the Koreans, who had to win to stand any probability of staying alive, hit again within the twenty seventh minute by means of Kim Young-gwon.

Portugal skipper Cristiano Ronaldo performed a component within the Korean equaliser, turning his again on a nook and the ball hitting him to arrange Kim.

South Korea and their skipper Son, in a masks after current surgical procedure, wanted to score once more however they failed to actually hassle Portugal till Son arrange Hwang in harm time after a fantastic run.

Before a ball was even kicked a roar went up at Education City Stadium each time Ronaldo’s face popped up on the massive display, even in the course of the nationwide anthems. There have been some jeers too and chants of “Messi, Messi”.

South Korea coach Paulo Bento, the previous (*16*) worldwide, had to watch from the stands after he was despatched off following the ultimate whistle of the Koreans’ 3-2 defeat to Ghana.

He noticed his males fall behind after simply 5 minutes when defender Pepe performed the ball down the precise to Manchester United full-back Diogo Dalot.

Dalot simply evaded a weak Korean problem and pulled the ball again from the byline for winger Horta to fireplace unmarked into the again of the web in entrance of a 44,000 crowd.

With qualification already safe, Portugal made six modifications from the group that beat Uruguay 2-0, Dalot and Horta amongst these purchased in.

But they nonetheless seemed harmful each time they went ahead within the first half in opposition to a Korean defence lacking Napoli’s Kim Min-jae.

South Korean skipper Son, the Spurs ahead, was but to get going at this World Cup after surgical procedure for a fracture round his left eye in the beginning of November.

Wearing a black masks to shield the wound, the 30-year-old confirmed glimpses of his good greatest as South Korea chased the win they so badly wanted.

South Korea have been threatening to get on high and within the twenty seventh minute they have been degree.

The 37-year-old Ronaldo, absolutely taking part in at his last World Cup, unwittingly performed a central position within the South Korean aim.

Currently with no membership after his bitter departure from Manchester United, the ahead turned his again on a Korean nook and the ball hit his shoulder and fell straight to defender Kim to flip in.

The second half was extra of the identical – Portugal having fun with extra possession and stroking the ball round however South Korea and an more and more influential Son a menace on the break.

Portugal coach Fernando Santos introduced Ronaldo off on 65 minutes to save his legs, then attacker Hwang got here on and proved to be the hero on the loss of life.

DOHA – The 2022 World Cup will get underway on Sunday in Qatar, with France hoping to develop into the first group to efficiently defend the title since Brazil 60 years in the past.

AFP Sport takes a glance at six of the world’s finest players who might be competing in the event:

Lionel Messi (ARG)

Arguably the best participant of all time, Messi has but to emulate previous legends Pele and Diego Maradona by successful soccer’s largest prize. He did lastly win a significant worldwide event with Argentina when he was the driving pressure behind their Copa America triumph final yr. The 35-year-old has mentioned this can “very likely” be his final World Cup and might be determined to go one higher than 2014, when Argentina misplaced the ultimate to Germany in further time. Lionel Scaloni’s facet have excessive hopes of successful a 3rd world title, heading into the event on a 36-match unbeaten run. Messi scored his 91st worldwide aim in a 5-0 pleasant win over the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday.

Cristiano Ronaldo (POR)

Messi’s long-time rival for the standing of world’s finest participant, Ronaldo may even certainly be showing at a World Cup for the ultimate time, aged 37. International soccer’s all-time file scorer lately netted the 700th membership aim of his profession. Ronaldo gained an emotional title at Euro 2016 with Portugal however their finest effort with him on a world stage stays a semi-final exit in 2006. He might be anticipating to rating in a record-breaking fifth straight World Cup, surpassing Pele, Miroslav Klose and Uwe Seeler. Ronaldo could have to put a tough begin to the season with Manchester United behind him, having struggled for kind earlier than accusing the membership of “betraying” him.

Kylian Mbappe (FRA)

His France teammate Karim Benzema is the present Ballon d’Or holder however the world champions’ most essential participant stays Mbappe, greater than 4 years since he starred at the 2018 World Cup. The Paris Saint-Germain ahead turned the first teenager to rating in a World Cup ultimate since Pele together with his strike in France’s 4-2 victory over Croatia. Mbappe, now 23, has denied experiences he’s making an attempt to go away PSG mid-season simply months after signing a profitable new contract. After successful the finest younger participant trophy in Russia, he could have his eyes set on the senior prize this time round.

Neymar (Brazil)

Brazil head into the event as favourites to win a record-extending sixth World Cup. The sturdy type of Neymar this season for PSG might be a giant plus level for coach Tite after a tough spell for the 30-year-old. Neymar heads to Qatar simply two objectives wanting equalling Pele’s all-time Brazil scoring file, albeit having already performed 29 extra matches. The Selecao have been crushed by Belgium in the quarter-finals 4 years in the past, leaving Neymar nonetheless ready to make up for 2014, when he missed the humiliating 7-1 semifinal thrashing by Germany on dwelling soil by way of harm.

Edouard Mendy (Senegal)

The Chelsea goalkeeper misplaced his place as first-choice goalkeeper underneath Graham Potter this season after a string of expensive errors however might be essential to Senegal’s hopes of turning into the first African World Cup semi-finalists. Mendy, a Champions League winner in 2021, saved a penalty as Senegal beat Egypt in a shootout in the Africa Cup of Nations ultimate earlier this yr. The 30-year-old did begin Chelsea’s final two Premier League video games earlier than this event after an harm to Kepa Arrizabalaga. Shorn of star ahead Sadio Mane due to harm, Senegal might be determined for Mendy to rediscover the kind that noticed him named FIFA’s 2021 goalkeeper of the yr at the different finish of the pitch.

Son Heung-min (South Korea)

The Tottenham ahead is undoubtedly Asian soccer’s largest star and he might be carrying South Korea’s hopes in a tight-looking Group H if he can get better from a fractured eye socket. Son shared the Premier League Golden Boot final season with Liverpool’s Salah, regardless of not taking penalties for Spurs. He has netted 35 occasions in 104 internationals, together with the second aim of the Koreans’ beautiful 2018 win over Germany which dumped the reigning champions out in the group stage.